Section 17A of the Education Services for Overseas Students Act 2000 (ESOS Act) and Standard 11.3 of the National Code of Practice for Providers of Education and Training to Overseas Students 2018 (National Code) require providers to notify TEQSA of certain events, such as a change of details on the Commonwealth Register of Institutions and Courses for Overseas Students (CRICOS), or any change or event that would significantly affect the provider’s ability to comply with the Act.
Some notifications have timeframes specified in the National Code and the ESOS Act:
- Standard 11.3 of the National Code requires a registered provider to notify its ESOS agency (TEQSA) of any proposed changes to the provider’s registration for a course at least 30 days prior to the time at which those changes are to take effect. This includes proposed changes to:
- course duration, including holiday breaks
- modes of study, including on-line, distance or work-based training
- number of overseas students enrolled at the provider, within the limit or maximum number approved by the ESOS agency for the location
- arrangements with other education providers, including partners, in delivering a course or courses to overseas students.
- Section 17A of the ESOS Act requires a registered provider to notify its ESOS agency (TEQSA) of the following, within 10 business days after the event occurs:
- any occurrence of an event that would significantly affect the provider’s ability to comply with the Act
- any prospective changes to the ownership of the registered provider as soon as practicable before the changes takes effect
- any prospective or actual change in relation to a related person of the provider. If the change cannot be determined until it takes effect, the registered provider is to notify the ESOS agency (TEQSA) within 10 business days of the change taking effect; or as soon as practicable before the change takes effect.
NOTE: There are no fees associated with any of these changes.
Notifications must be submitted in the approved form via the provider portal within the timeframe required by the Act/National Code and must include all information requested.
Please use the following application forms to notify TEQSA of these types of change to your CRICOS registration:
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Relevant legislation |
Type of notification |
Application form for notification |
Timeframe |
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Changes to the duration of a course, including holiday breaks |
Other CRICOS changes |
At least 30 days prior to the time at which those changes are proposed to take effect |
|
|
Changes to modes of study, including online, distance, or work-integrated learning components of a course |
Other CRICOS changes |
At least 30 days prior to the time at which those changes are proposed to take effect |
|
|
Changes to the maximum number of overseas students that can be enrolled at a location |
At least 30 days prior to the time at which those changes are proposed to take effect |
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New arrangements with other education providers in delivering a course or courses to overseas students |
Arrangements with another provider (third-party partnership) |
At least 30 days prior to the time at which those changes are proposed to take effect |
|
| National Code | Termination of arrangements with other education providers in delivering a course or courses to overseas students | Other CRICOS changes | At least 30 days prior to the time at which those changes are proposed to take effect |
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Any change or event that would significantly affect the provider’s ability to comply with the Act, for example:
|
Other CRICOS changes |
Within 10 business days after the event occurs |
|
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Prospective or actual change in relation to a related person of the provider |
Other CRICOS changes |
As soon as practicable before the changes take effect, or if the change cannot be determined until it takes effect, within 10 business days of the change taking effect |
Please note: For providers registered under the Tertiary Education Quality and Standards Agency Act 2011, there may also be obligations to submit a material change notification to TEQSA where an event requires an update to the National Register or an event happens or is likely to happen that will significantly affect the provider’s ability to meet the Higher Education Standards Framework (Threshold Standard) 2021. Further information is available on our Material Changes page.
Evidence requirements for Other CRICOS changes
Changes to the duration of a course
If making a change to the duration of a course, you should provide evidence to support your application including rationale for the change and minutes of the decision taken by the governing body, evidence that students have been advised of the proposed change and evidence that students have been advised to contact the Department of Home Affairs if this change will require an extension of their student visa.
Changes to the title of a course
If proposing a change to the title of a course, where the course duration and its learning outcomes remain the same, you should provide evidence to support your application including minutes of the decision taken to update the course title and evidence that current and accepted students have been informed.
Changes to work integrated learning components of a course
If proposing changes to work integrated learning components of a course, you should provide evidence to support your application including the rationale for the change and minutes of the decision taken.
Changes to student capacity on CRICOS
For more information regarding the evidence requirements for changing overseas student capacity at a location, see the How to apply to change student capacity on CRICOS page.
Further information
For more information or assistance regarding notifications required under the National Code and the ESOS Act, please contact the CRICOS team at cricos@teqsa.gov.au.
CRICOS and ELICOS